Member Reviews
Loved reading this book. Amazing story and the characters lend to the charm of this book. I would highly recommend this book. You would not be disappointed.
My friends and I interviewed Melody Carlson about this title at StoryChats podcast here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3VQWkTHZB8
A sweet little story that is perfect for the busy season of Christmas with a great cast of characters and maybe a little too sweet of a plot! Vera has recently located to this condo to be near family that ended up moving from that location, so she is very alone and not ready for a Christmas season. A family who also recently relocated to this condo community ends up on her doorstep and in need of some help and maybe they can help her too!!
I don't want to share too much because this book is just too sweet. The cast of characters that come together to help this family are so fun and eclectic and I loved that they each were given a moment to have a journey or evolution. Each of the cast contributed to the story and each received something from someone else in the group - it was so great to see each of them have a moment or two in the story.
I loved that this book was just one of those easy reads that is perfect to get into during a time of the year that can be busy with a lot of other things going on.
Thank you to Netgalley, publisher and the author for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review #aquiltforchristmas
Vera Swanson's family are all moving on with their own lives just as she decides to downsize and move closer. One day a little girl comes over and Vera realises her mother is dreadfully ill and ensures she gets to the hospital but who will look after the children? Vera comes to the rescue and embarks on a sewing journey to make a Quilt for the little girls mum ready for Christmas. Can she do it? Will she be alone for Christmas?
The cozy cover and title drew me to this book when I was looking for an easy Christmas read.
This book does exactly what it says on the tin gives you a feel good Christmas read to cuddle up with in front of the fire.
However I did find it lacked description and back story. I think this was due to it being a novella but it would have been nice to get deeper into each character and surrounding rather than just scratching the service.
Melody Carlson continues on a winning streak with wonderful Christian Christmas Fiction with A Quilt for Christmas. A Quilt for Christmas tells the story of Vera Swanson, a widow who moves to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren only to have them move shortly after she moves, and her neighbor young Fiona, who just moved from Ireland and have fallen on hard times. Fiona asks Vera for help when her Mother needs to go to the hospital. Vera takes care of Fiona and her siblings. When Fiona has found a quilt that Vera has made, she wants to make a quilt for her Mother for Christmas. Vera starts an impromptu quilting class to get the job done and the lessons everyone receives has a ripple effect for each student personally. A Quilt for Christmas has a Hallmark and a Yada Yada Prayer Group feel to it. I liked the message and the coziness of the book. I highly recommend A Quilt for Christmas by Melody Carlson! Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book. My review is also on Goodreads.
I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook.
I absolutely love the cover. So beautiful and Christmasy.
I was able to find the audio version through my local library.
I really really enjoyed this novel a lot. It seems to be a Christian book? But I am not sure they mention God a few times but nothing about scriptures etc. But if you are wanting a short cozy Christmas read this is perfect for you. It gives the the want to give and help this holiday season. Highly recommend! I would read from this author again.
This book was sent to me by Netgalley for review…it is a heartwarming story about caring individuals in a time of crisis…children needing love…parents needing help…others stepping up…the characters are charming…the setting is a part of the story in that it is new to the protagonist. The story moves quickly…a quilt? Who would have thought? This author is talented in weaving a story such as this one…enjoy.
A Quilt for Christmas is a heartwarming story that will melt the heart of any Ebenezer who has turned their back on life. Melody Carlson has a tradition of writing Christmas stories that put me into the spirit of the season. This story has been added to my "To be read each Christmas:" list. Melody has the gift of finding just the right characters we love and although they are fictional, if you look around you, there will be that special child or mother who needs you.
Enjoy
I look forward to Melody's Christmas novella each year and I am never disappointed. This one was so sweet and I lived the relationships that were built around creating this quilt and the resulting lasting bonds.
This was a nice weekend read that is inspiring and perfect for the holiday season. highly recommend if you're interested in inspiring fiction, women's fiction, holiday reads.
“A Quilt For Christmas” by Melody Carlson is a heartwarming novella, celebrating the true spirit of Christmas, depicting how CHRISTMAS can be celebrated with a family, even if you are alone. Widowed and lonely, Vera Swanson does not expect to celebrate Christmas this year, until little Fiona Albright knocks on her door needing help urgently. With her mother seriously ill and her father out of station, Fiona desperately needs Vera’s help. When she discovers that Vera is a quilter, she has an unusual request for a Christmas quilt for her sick Mama. Vera quickly gets some women together to fulfill the request. Vera fervently hopes that Christmas for the Albrights will be cheerful and she may find a family of friends along the way. This extremely inspiring story of giving, forgiving, and a heartful of love will capture your imagination in a big way. Little Fiona’s big heart of love truly makes all the difference for Vera and others like her this Christmas.
Melody Carlson is one of the first writers of specialist Christmas stories that are now such a reader draw card, having produced one every year for the last 23 years. The contribution for 2022, A Quilt For Christmas, shows she’s still got a fresh and loving touch after all those years.
A Quilt for Christmas centers on a patchwork circle that brings together a group of women with different hurts and gaps in their lives.
Vera is one of those, an older widow who lived in a big Victorian villa until persuaded by her daughter to relocate to a condo in another town “to be close to family.”
As if that wasn’t disruption enough, her daughter and her husband,change jobs and leave her to it, with no glorious old villa to decorate for Christmas.
Enter Fiona, a precocious five-year-old with a “smart old soul” and the story takes off.
Melody is an award-winning author of inspirational romance with more than 200 books and 6.5 million copies sold, and she's an expert at telling stories that hum.
Uplifting and inspirational, a balm for lonely souls for the holiday season. and any other time
Melody talks about her books and career on The Joys of Binge Reading podcast.
https://thejoysofbingereading.com/tag/melody-carlson/
Loved this book! The Characters were fun and inspirational to read, the children and the small family. All the characters involved really warmed my heart and made me appreciate others, it's taught me to give grace to all. I definitely see myself reading this book next Christmas.
The Queen of Christmas Novellas has done it again. A Quilt for Christmas by Melody Carlson is a feel-good story about reaching out of our own lives to others who are hurting and facing challenges. Four strangers are brought together to create a quilt for Vera’s neighbor. Prompted by the precocious 4 year old Fiona, the four very different women forge friendships, and in one case an uneasy alliance, to help a family in need. The book is quick to take off as novellas do, but is filled with poignant moments and a few chuckle-inducing scenes. Friendships are made, a romance is kindled, and hearts are softened. It was the perfect book for holiday reading due to its Christmastime setting, but would make a great weekend read any time of the year.
Recommended.
Audience: adults.
A Sweet Christmas story with a sweet little girl an older neighbor and an odd mix that forms the quilting group in order to help make little Fiona's Christmas wish come true. While the book is only 176 pages, this novella is full of Christmas cheer. An unlikely friendship and relationships are forged.
This book is absolutely brilliant, full of friendship and depth, Melody Carlson never disappoints!
On the surface this is a story about a group of women joining to help a family in need! The storyline cleverly reveals the characters to have a lot in common, especially their need to help each other heal.
The group of strangers have underlying loneliness, the challenge of making a quilt for Fiona’s unwell mother brings out the best and worse in them all!
Vera is new to town, she throws herself into the task of coordinating the quilters, making friends along the way.
Eleanor’s happy to open her home, not so much her heart. Beverley is ready to jump into making new friends and Tasha’s youthful exuberance unites the group! It’s wonderful to witness the journey of trust flowing into meaningful and mutual understanding, as a result of thinking of others!
Congratulations and thanks to the publisher, NetGalley and author for the opportunity to read this well written book!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A Quilt For Christmas by Melody Carlson is an absolutely charming contemporary Christian festive tale that will warm your heart.
Every year I look forward to Melody Carlson’s Christmas offering, they are always beautiful and heart-warming.
All the characters are well drawn and realistic. They are an eclectic mix from a four year old girl to two ladies who are nearly seventy.
Kind hearts gather to make a little girl’s wish for her mother’s Christmas quilt to come true. We see that you are never too old nor too young to learn new skills.
The warm atmosphere has a chill at times as a hurting character has let bitterness invade her heart. Past memories, rather than warming have the opposite effect and freeze a character’s heart. What will it take to thaw that frozen heart?
When needs are identified, characters pull together to meet them. Everyone is determined to give a family the best Christmas ever.
I absolutely adored A Quilt For Christmas. It was such a wonderful heart-warming read. Melody Carlson really is the queen of Christmas fiction.
I received a free copy via Net Galley. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
A delightful story full of Christmas cheer. I for one would be very happy to read more from these characters.
When Vera's neighbor's little girl comes to the door and tells Vera her mama is sick, Vera feels she has to check on her. With not much to live with or on and Dad working at the only available job 2 hours away and unable to come home except on the weekends, Vera feels she should adopt the family. Fiona has one request as the holidays approach: a pretty quilt like Vera's for her mom. Can Vera fill her request as the holidays quickly approach.
A sweet, faith filled Christmas novella that focuses on love and caring during the Christmas holidays. I especially enjoyed the relationship that developed between the 4 quilters who did not really know each other before the started the project.
Reading a Melody Carlson book during the holiday season has become a tradition for me. For the 2022 season she has gifted us with another sweet story that I love. Vera Swanson is an older lady who is dealing with the loss of her husband and a move to a condo. She just isn't feeling the Christmas spirit and is lonely. Little Irish transplant Fiona Albright knocks on Vera's door begging for help for her mother who is in terrible pain. Life changes for them all from that moment on.
Fiona visits the helpful Vera and sees a beautiful quilt. With her child-like faith she decides she wants to make her mother a quilt for Christmas, and she knows Vera can help her. Her brother joins in by helping to make posters requesting help to make said quilt. This leads to such an enjoyable story as Vera finds herself as a leader for a small group of strangers who try to work together to help children give their mom a gift like no other.
Melody Carlson has done it again. This is a precious story. I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for my advanced reader's copy of this colorful touch to the Christmas season. This is a collection worthy book in my opinion.